St. Kitts and Nevis's geographical location, in the hurricane belt between the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and its island status make St. Kitts and Nevis highly vulnerable to natural disasters, mostly to hurricanes and flooding, and occasional volcanic and tectonic activity. The consequences of these natural disasters can have a severe impact on economic activities, property, human welfare, and natural resources. A European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO) diagnostic study reports that between 1900 and 1996, Caribbean countries had sustained 309 disaster events resulting in over 72,000 deaths and approximately 12 million people affected.

DISASTER EVENTS

1626: St. Kitts - Bloody Point was the location where th French & British forces massacred over 2000 Carib Indians.1642: A hurricane destroyed all the houses on the island of St. Kitts1667: A hurricane destroyed all the houses on the island of St. Kitts6th April 1690 An earthquake caused serious damage throughout St. Kitts & NevisFirst hand details of 1690 EarthquakeSt. Kitts – There were cracks in the ground as wide as 9 feet in some areas. The Jesuit college and other wooden structures collapsed.Nevis – The sea was disturbed and a tsunami appears to have affected Charlestown.10th April 1690 Jamestown, former Capital of Nevis, reportedly destroyed by an earthquake & subsequent Tsunami at 5 pm31 Aug 1772: Hurricane caused £500 000 worth of damage on St. Kitts (The cost in 2010 E.C. dollars must be close to 2.5 billion)4th Sept 1776 A fire caused significant loss of property in St. Kitts. It was followed only a day later by a hurricane.1790 Major flooding torment the inhabitants of Basseterre.9th Sept 1821 Destructive Hurricane17th Aug 1827 Destructive Hurricane12th Aug 1835 Destructive Hurricane1833 Dreadful Earthquakes affected NevisOctober 1836 MV Clarendon while travelling from Basseterre, St. Kitts to England with cargo of rum, sugar, arrow root, coconuts and turtles, sought shelter in Portsmouth after crossing the Atlantic but without success. The ship had encountered strong winds while crossing the Atlantic. The ship sunk when it came under hurricane force winds while trying to get to Plymouth for shelter. 13 sailors and 10 passengers perished with 3 crewman saved.8th Feb 1843 Earthquake affecting Nevis - Charlestown Court House to the ground. Bath house much damaged. Custom House partly down and all the Mills in the island more or less injured, nearly the whole of the town destroyed, most of the wood built houses are left standing, all the stone buildings are so injured that they must be taken down and rebuilt, estimated damage at £50,000 only 2 Mills on the island that can be worked.St. Christopher - Basseterre Church irreparably injured. The Churches of St. Peter's, St. Mary's, Cayon, P. Point, Old Road, and Sandy Point are materially injured The town of Basseterre has suffered severely. Wall House in the square down. Part of the Reading Room - Mr. Matthew's Store - all down. The House occupied by the Director of the West India Bank nearly down, and every stone building in town so much injured, that it will be necessary to take down many of them. One house in town partly sunk into the cellar. All the Estates throughout the island much injured. Steam Engines, Boiling Houses, Dwelling Houses, and works, levelled with the earth. The works of the Bevon Island Estate thrown into a ravine below them. The loss of property in stores, furniture, etc., very great. Four Mile Bridge undermined. First hand account for St. Kitts & Nevis1854: Cholera Epidemic - It was estimated that one sixth of the population died from the disease. 3,920 persons died in St. Kitts and 891 in Nevis.2nd July 1867 The great fire of 1867 left damage throughout Basseterre. It started on the late in the night of the 2nd July at a bakery that was located on the corner of Central Street and West Independence Square Street. It quickly spread to the Bay Road and as far west as Salt Pond Alley. Before the night was out the whole of Cayon Street, west to the police station had been destroyed. Many people were homeless and food was scarce as most businesses had lost significant inventory to the flames.21st Aug 1871 Destructive Hurricane12th Sept 1876 Destructive Hurricane4th? Jan 1880: St. Kitts - Disastrous flooding of Basseterre - 231 persons died7th Aug 1899 Destructive Hurricane28th Aug 1924 Destructive Hurricane13th Sept 1928 Destructive Hurricane1948: M.V. Crown sank in the Caribbean sea while travelling from Nevis to St. Kitts with a crew of eight, captained by Elenezer Hicks. 3 crewmen drowned and the boat was not found. Poem by Marcella Queeley Jones1950's : Severe earthquakes strike St. Kitts & Nevis1950's : M.V. Lady Nisbett and M.V. Enterprise mishap/accident (details being sought)10th April 1950: 12 persons died in a stampede on Easter Monday at Brimstone Hill, St. Kitts when a crowd ran into a passageway to escape from rain (108)1st Aug 1970: M.V. Christena Disaster (227 persons die in boat incident in the Narrows, between St. Kitts & Nevis) Christena TragedyMemorial Lg Pics1974 An earthquake of magnitude 7.5 struck the Leeward Islands causing significant damage. St. George's Anglican Church damage1982 The Court House in St. Kitts was burnt to the ground in 1982 and rebuilt in 1995.17th Sept 1989: Hurricane Hugo impacts St. Kitts & Nevis (details to be posted)5th Sept 1995: Hurricane Luis impacts St. Kitts & Nevis (details to be posted)15th Sept 1995: Hurricane Marilyn impacts St. Kitts & Nevis (details to be posted)1998 Major flooding continues to torment the inhabitants of Basseterre.21st Sept 1998: Hurricane Georges impacts St. Kitts & Nevis (details to be posted)18th Nov 1999: Hurricane Lenny severely damages the Nevis coastline, Four Seasons Hotel, Deep Water Harbours (St. Kitts & Nevis)Oct 2008: Hurricane Omar severely damages the Four Seasons Hotel causing the Hotel to be closed for more than 1 year.